深山居处寂静

二十八岁至三十岁时。皆居岩洞采山草叶充饥。不食人间烟火。初时屡现胜境。而不着境。一心正观念佛。日久身轻体健。步履如飞。耳聪目明。可察秋毫。二瞳炯然。人见以为魅。怖而疾奔。　

宣化偈曰：
穴居野处原始风。少欲知足无所争。
不语观心何生住。逍遥三界任西东。

Dwelling in the deep mountain stillness

From his twenty-eighth to his thirtieth years, the Master dwelt in a cliff cave, gathering mountain grasses and herbs to satisfy his hunger. He did not partake of the cooked food of others. At the outset, a glorious state of being often appeared, and yet he did not become attached when he was in such a state. He properly and single-mindedly recited the Buddha's name. As the days passed, his body became lighter, and he was quite robust. It was as if he were flying when he walked. His hearing was acute and his eyes could clearly discern the most minute detail. The pupils of his eyes glowed so that when people saw him, they thought he was a goblin and took to their heels in fright!

The verse says:
Dwelling in a wilderness cave in a primitive way,
Knowing contentment, his desires were few-there was no wrangling.
He did not speak but observed his mind-how it arises and dwells.
Roaming through the triple world, he ventured east and west.